Surgical adapter assemblies for use between surgical handle assembly and surgical end effectors

ABSTRACT

Adapter assemblies selectively interconnect a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least a pair of functions and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an adapter knob housing configured and adapted for connection with the surgical device and to be in operative communication with each of the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device. The adapter knob housing defines a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough and a ring gear formed in an inner surface of the lumen of the adapter knob housing. The ring gear defines an internal array of gear teeth which are engaged with a spur gear of a rotatable drive shaft. The adapter knob housing may be a unitary member and may be formed of plastic.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/820,650, filed on Aug. 7, 2015 (now U.S. Pat.No. 10,251,644), which is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/904,069, filed on May 29, 2013 (now U.S. Pat.No. 10,022,123), which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/669,228, filed on Jul. 9, 2012, theentire content of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The present application is also a Continuation-in-Part Application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/338,980, filed on Oct. 31, 2016,which is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/847,791, filed on Mar. 20, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,498,212), whichis a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/233,299, filed on Sep. 15, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,739), whichis a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/968,525, filed on Oct. 18, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,770,459), whichclaims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/512,481 filed Oct. 17, 2003, the entire content of each of whichis incorporated by reference herein.

The present application is also a Continuation-in-Part Application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/683,407, filed on Apr. 10, 2015 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,041,822), which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/895,897, filed on Oct. 1, 2010 (now U.S.Pat. No. 9,113,880), which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/248,971, filed on Oct. 6, 2009 andU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/248,504, filed on Oct. 5, 2009,the entire content of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/895,897, filed on Oct. 1, 2010 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,113,880) is also a Continuation-in-Part Application ofU.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 12/189,834, filed on Aug. 12, 2008 (nowabandoned), which claims the benefit and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60,997,854, filed on Oct. 5, 2007, the entirecontent of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical devices. More specifically,the present disclosure relates to surgical adapters and/or adapterassemblies for use between and for interconnecting a powered, rotatingand/or articulating surgical device or handle assembly and an endeffector for clamping, cutting and/or stapling tissue.

2. Background of Related Art

One type of surgical device is a linear clamping, cutting and staplingdevice. Such a device may be employed in a surgical procedure to resecta cancerous or anomalous tissue from a gastro-intestinal tract.Conventional linear clamping, cutting and stapling instruments include apistol grip-styled structure having an elongated shaft and distalportion. The distal portion includes a pair of scissors-styled grippingelements, which clamp the open ends of the colon closed. In this device,one of the two scissors-styled gripping elements, such as the anvilportion, moves or pivots relative to the overall structure, whereas theother gripping element remains fixed relative to the overall structure.The actuation of this scissoring device (the pivoting of the anvilportion) is controlled by a grip trigger maintained in the handle.

In addition to the scissoring device, the distal portion also includes astapling mechanism. The fixed gripping element of the scissoringmechanism includes a staple cartridge receiving region and a mechanismfor driving the staples up through the clamped end of the tissue againstthe anvil portion, thereby sealing the previously opened end. Thescissoring elements may be integrally formed with the shaft or may bedetachable such that various scissoring and stapling elements may beinterchangeable.

A number of surgical device manufacturers have developed product lineswith proprietary powered drive systems for operating and/or manipulatingthe surgical device. In many instances the surgical devices include apowered handle assembly, which is reusable, and a disposable endeffector or the like that is selectively connected to the powered handleassembly prior to use and then disconnected from the end effectorfollowing use in order to be disposed of or in some instances sterilizedfor re-use.

Many of the existing end effectors for use with many of the existingpowered surgical devices and/or handle assemblies are driven by a linearforce. For examples, end effectors for performing endo-gastrointestinalanastomosis procedures, end-to-end anastomosis procedures and transverseanastomosis procedures, each typically require a linear driving force inorder to be operated. As such, these end effectors are not compatiblewith surgical devices and/or handle assemblies that use a rotary motionto deliver power or the like.

In order to make the linear driven end effectors compatible with poweredsurgical devices and/or handle assemblies that use a rotary motion todeliver power, a need exists for adapters and/or adapter assemblies tointerface between and interconnect the linear driven end effectors withthe powered rotary driven surgical devices and/or handle assemblies.

Many of these powered rotary driven surgical devices and/or handleassemblies are complex devices, including many parts and requiringextensive labor to assemble. Accordingly, a need exists to developpowered rotary driven surgical devices and/or handle assemblies thatincorporate fewer parts, are less labor intensive to assemble andultimately more economical to manufacture.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to surgical adapters and/or adapterassemblies for use between and for interconnecting a powered, rotatingand/or articulating surgical device or handle assembly and an endeffector for clamping, cutting and/or stapling tissue.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an adapter assembly isprovided for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector that isconfigured to perform a function and a surgical device that isconfigured to actuate the end effector, the end effector including atleast one axially translatable drive member, and the surgical deviceincluding at least one rotatable drive shaft. The adapter assemblyincludes an adapter knob housing configured and adapted for connectionwith the surgical device and to be in operative communication with eachof the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device. Theadapter knob housing defines a lumen extending longitudinallytherethrough. The adapter assembly includes an outer tube having aproximal end supported by the adapter knob housing and a distal endconfigured and adapted for connection with the end effector, wherein thedistal end of the outer tube is in operative communication with each ofthe at least one axially translatable drive member of the end effector.The adapter assembly includes a drive transmitting assembly having aproximal rotatable drive shaft rotatably supported in the adapter knobhousing and having a spur gear supported on a distal end thereof and aproximal end connectable to a rotatable drive shaft of the surgicaldevice; and a ring gear formed in an inner surface of the lumen of theadapter knob housing, the ring gear defining an internal array of gearteeth which are engaged with the spur gear of the proximal rotatabledrive shaft. In use, rotation of the rotatable drive shaft of thesurgical device results in rotation of the proximal drive shaft, andwherein rotation of the proximal drive shaft results in rotation ofadapter knob housing via the ring gear, and rotation of the distalcoupling assembly to rotate the end effector.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, anelectromechanical surgical system is provided and includes a hand-heldsurgical device, an end effector, and an adapter assembly forselectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical device.

The hand-held surgical device includes a device housing defining aconnecting portion for selectively connecting with an adapter assembly.

The end effector includes at least one axially translatable drivemember.

The adapter assembly includes an adapter knob housing configured andadapted for connection with the surgical device and to be in operativecommunication with each of the at least one rotatable drive shaft of thesurgical device. The adapter knob housing defines a lumen extendinglongitudinally therethrough. The adapter assembly includes an outer tubehaving a proximal end supported by the adapter knob housing and a distalend configured and adapted for connection with the end effector, whereinthe distal end of the outer tube is in operative communication with eachof the at least one axially translatable drive member of the endeffector. The adapter assembly includes a drive transmitting assemblyhaving a proximal rotatable drive shaft rotatably supported in theadapter knob housing and having a spur gear supported on a distal endthereof and a proximal end connectable to a rotatable drive shaft of thesurgical device; and a ring gear formed in an inner surface of the lumenof the adapter knob housing, the ring gear defining an internal array ofgear teeth which are engaged with the spur gear of the proximalrotatable drive shaft. In use, rotation of the rotatable drive shaft ofthe surgical device results in rotation of the proximal drive shaft, andwherein rotation of the proximal drive shaft results in rotation ofadapter knob housing via the ring gear, and rotation of the distalcoupling assembly to rotate the end effector.

The adapter knob housing may be a unitary member.

The adapter knob housing may be formed of plastic.

The adapter knob housing may include a distal housing half, and aproximal housing half secured to the distal housing half.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of a surgical deviceand adapter assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, illustrating a connection thereof with an end effector;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the surgical device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connecting ends of each of thesurgical device and the adapter assembly, illustrating a connectiontherebetween;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the adapterassembly of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIGS. 1-5, as takenthrough 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a rear, perspective view of an adapter assembly including aknob housing according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a rear, perspective view of the knob housing of the adapterassembly of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective, cross-sectional views of the knobhousing of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of an exemplary endeffector for use with the surgical device and the adapter assembly ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of the outputs to the LED's;selection of motor (to select clamping/cutting, rotation orarticulation); and selection of the drive motors to perform a functionselected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical devices, and adapterassemblies for surgical devices and/or handle assemblies are describedin detail with reference to the drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of theseveral views. As used herein the term “distal” refers to that portionof the adapter assembly or surgical device, or component thereof,farther from the user, while the term “proximal” refers to that portionof the adapter assembly or surgical device, or component thereof, closerto the user.

A surgical device, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, is generally designated as 100, and is in the form of apowered hand held electromechanical instrument configured for selectiveattachment thereto of a plurality of different end effectors that areeach configured for actuation and manipulation by the powered hand heldelectromechanical surgical instrument.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, surgical device 100 is configured forselective connection with an adapter assembly 200, and, in turn, adapterassembly 200 is configured for selective connection with an end effectoror single use loading unit 300.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, surgical device 100 includes a handlehousing 102 having a lower housing portion 104, an intermediate housingportion 106 extending from and/or supported on lower housing portion104, and an upper housing portion 108 extending from and/or supported onintermediate housing portion 106. Intermediate housing portion 106 andupper housing portion 108 are separated into a distal half-section thatis integrally formed with and extending from the lower portion 104, anda proximal half-section connectable to the distal half-section by aplurality of fasteners. When joined, the distal and proximalhalf-sections define a handle housing 102 having a cavity therein inwhich a circuit board (not shown) and a drive mechanism (not shown) issituated.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the distal half-section of upper housingportion 108 defines a nose or connecting portion 108 a. A nose cone 114is supported on nose portion 108 a of upper housing portion 108. Nosecone 114 is fabricated from a transparent material. An illuminationmember (not shown) is disposed within nose cone 114 such that theillumination member is visible therethrough. The illumination member maybe in the form of a light emitting diode printed circuit board (LEDPCB). The illumination member may be configured to illuminate multiplecolors with a specific color pattern being associated with a uniquediscrete event.

Upper housing portion 108 of handle housing 102 provides a housing inwhich the drive mechanism is situated. The drive mechanism is configuredto drive shafts and/or gear components in order to perform the variousoperations of surgical device 100. In particular, the drive mechanism isconfigured to drive shafts and/or gear components in order toselectively move tool assembly 304 of end effector 300 (see FIGS. 1 and11) relative to proximal body portion 302 of end effector 300, to rotateend effector 300 about a longitudinal axis “X” (see FIG. 3) relative tohandle housing 102, to move anvil assembly 306 relative to cartridgeassembly 308 of end effector 300, and/or to fire a stapling and cuttingcartridge within cartridge assembly 308 of end effector 300.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, and as mentioned above, the distalhalf-section of upper housing portion 108 defines a connecting portion108 a configured to accept a corresponding drive coupling assembly 210of adapter assembly 200.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, connecting portion 108 a of surgicaldevice 100 has a cylindrical recess 108 b that receives a drive couplingassembly 210 of adapter assembly 200 when adapter assembly 200 is matedto surgical device 100. Connecting portion 108 a houses three rotatabledrive connectors 118, 120, 122.

When adapter assembly 200 is mated to surgical device 100, each ofrotatable drive connectors 118, 120, 122 of surgical device 100 coupleswith a corresponding rotatable connector sleeve 218, 220, 222 of adapterassembly 200. (see FIG. 3). In this regard, the interface betweencorresponding first drive connector 118 and first connector sleeve 218,the interface between corresponding second drive connector 120 andsecond connector sleeve 220, and the interface between correspondingthird drive connector 122 and third connector sleeve 222 are keyed suchthat rotation of each of drive connectors 118, 120, 122 of surgicaldevice 100 causes a corresponding rotation of the correspondingconnector sleeve 218, 220, 222 of adapter assembly 200.

The mating of drive connectors 118, 120, 122 of surgical device 100 withconnector sleeves 218, 220, 222 of adapter assembly 200 allowsrotational forces to be independently transmitted via each of the threerespective connector interfaces. The drive connectors 118, 120, 122 ofsurgical device 100 are configured to be independently rotated by thedrive mechanism. In this regard, a function selection module of thedrive mechanism selects which drive connector or connectors 118, 120,122 of surgical device 100 is to be driven by an input drive componentof the drive mechanism.

Since each of drive connectors 118, 120, 122 of surgical device 100 hasa keyed and/or substantially non-rotatable interface with respectiveconnector sleeves 218, 220, 222 of adapter assembly 200, when adapterassembly 200 is coupled to surgical device 100, rotational force(s) areselectively transferred from the drive mechanism of surgical device 100to adapter assembly 200.

The selective rotation of drive connector(s) 118, 120 and/or 122 ofsurgical device 100 allows surgical device 100 to selectively actuatedifferent functions of end effector 300. As will be discussed in greaterdetail below, selective and independent rotation of first driveconnector 118 of surgical device 100 corresponds to the selective andindependent opening and closing of tool assembly 304 of end effector300, and driving of a stapling/cutting component of tool assembly 304 ofend effector 300. Also, the selective and independent rotation of seconddrive connector 120 of surgical device 100 corresponds to the selectiveand independent articulation of tool assembly 304 of end effector 300transverse to longitudinal axis “X” (see FIG. 4). Additionally, theselective and independent rotation of third drive connector 122 ofsurgical device 100 corresponds to the selective and independentrotation of end effector 300 about longitudinal axis “X” (see FIG. 4)relative to handle housing 102 of surgical device 100.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, handle housing 102 supports a pair offinger-actuated control buttons 124, 126 and rocker devices 128, 130.

Actuation of first control button 124 causes tool assembly 304 of endeffector 300 to close and/or a stapling/cutting cartridge within toolassembly 304 of end effector 300 to fire.

Actuation of rocker device 128 in a first direction causes tool assembly304 to articulate relative to body portion 302 in a first direction,while actuation of rocker device 128 in an opposite, e.g., second,direction causes tool assembly 304 to articulate relative to bodyportion 302 in an opposite, e.g., second, direction.

Actuation of control button 126 causes tool assembly 304 of end effector300 to open.

Actuation of rocker device 130 causes end effector 300 to rotaterelative to handle housing 102 of surgical device 100. Specifically,movement of rocker device 130 in a first direction causes end effector300 to rotate relative to handle housing 102 in a first direction, whilemovement of rocker device 130 in an opposite, e.g., second, directioncauses end effector 300 to rotate relative to handle housing 102 in anopposite, e.g., second, direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, surgical device 100 is configured forselective connection with adapter assembly 200, and, in turn, adapterassembly 200 is configured for selective connection with end effector300.

Adapter assembly 200 is configured to convert a rotation of either ofdrive connectors 120 and 122 of surgical device 100 into axialtranslation useful for operating a drive assembly 360 and anarticulation link 366 of end effector 300, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

Adapter assembly 200 may include a first drive transmitting/convertingassembly for interconnecting third rotatable drive connector 122 ofsurgical device 100 and a first axially translatable drive member of endeffector 300, wherein the first drive transmitting/converting assemblyconverts and transmits a rotation of third rotatable drive connector 122of surgical device 100 to an axial translation of the first axiallytranslatable drive assembly 360 (see FIG. 7) of end effector 300 forfiring.

Adapter assembly 200 may include a second drive transmitting/convertingassembly for interconnecting second rotatable drive connector 120 ofsurgical device 100 and a second axially translatable drive member ofend effector 300, wherein the second drive transmitting/convertingassembly converts and transmits a rotation of second rotatable driveconnector 120 of surgical device 100 to an axial translation ofarticulation link 366 (see FIG. 11) of end effector 300 forarticulation.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-6, adapter assembly 200 includes a knob housing202 and an outer tube 206 extending from a distal end of knob housing202. Knob housing 202 and outer tube 206 are configured and dimensionedto house the components of adapter assembly 200. Outer tube 206 isdimensioned for endoscopic insertion, in particular, that outer tube ispassable through a typical trocar port, cannula or the like. Knobhousing 202 is dimensioned to not enter the trocar port, cannula of thelike.

Knob housing 202 is configured and adapted to connect to connectingportion 108 a of upper housing portion 108 of the distal half-section ofsurgical device 100.

As seen in FIGS. 1-6, adapter assembly 200 includes a surgical devicedrive coupling assembly 210 at a proximal end thereof and to an endeffector coupling assembly 230 at a distal end thereof. Drive couplingassembly 210 includes a distal drive coupling housing 210 a and aproximal drive coupling housing 210 b rotatably supported, at leastpartially, in knob housing 202. Drive coupling assembly 210 rotatablysupports a first rotatable proximal drive shaft 212 (see FIG. 6), asecond rotatable proximal drive shaft 214 (see FIG. 5), and a thirdrotatable proximal drive shaft 216 (see FIG. 6) therein.

Proximal drive coupling housing 210 b is configured to rotatably supportfirst, second and third connector sleeves 218, 220 and 222 (see FIGS. 3and 6), respectively. Each of connector sleeves 218, 220, 222 isconfigured to mate with respective first, second and third driveconnectors 118, 120, 122 of surgical device 100, as described above.Each of connector sleeves 218, 220, 222 is further configured to matewith a proximal end of respective first, second and third proximal driveshafts 212, 214, 216.

Adapter assembly 200 includes a first, a second and a third drivetransmitting/converting assembly, as mentioned above, disposed withinhandle housing 202 and outer tube 206. Each drivetransmitting/converting assembly is configured and adapted to transmitor convert a rotation of a first, second and third drive connector 118,120, 122 of surgical device 100 into axial translation of a drive tubeand a drive bar of adapter assembly 200, to effectuate closing, opening,articulating and firing of end effector 300; or a rotation of adapterassembly 200.

As seen in FIGS. 4-6 and as mentioned above, adapter assembly 200includes a third drive transmitting/converting assembly. Third drivetransmitting/converting assembly is integrally formed in knob housing202. In FIG. 5, knob housing 202 is shown as having a first half sectionand a second half section, for illustrative purposes only. In accordancewith the scope of the present disclosure, knob housing 202 is formed asa single unitary (one-piece) molded component, devoid of any split halfsections. By providing a unitary molded component, knob housing 202 maybe more robust as compared to a knob housing having a pair of halfsections. It is contemplated that knob housing 202 may be fabricatedfrom plastic or the like using any method known to one having skill inthe art.

Knob housing 202 defines a longitudinally extending lumen 202 aextending therethrough. Knob housing includes a pair of diametricallyopposed bosses 202 b, 202 c extending radially into lumen 202 a. Knobhousing 202 further includes an internal ring gear 202 d formed in thesurface of lumen 202 a.

As seen in FIG. 6, the third drive transmitting/converting assemblyincludes a rotatable proximal drive shaft 216 rotatably supported withinhousing 202. A proximal end portion of rotatable proximal drive shaft216 is keyed to third connector 222 of adapter assembly 200. Rotatableproximal drive shaft 216 includes a spur gear 216 a keyed to a distalend thereof. A gear set 274 inter-engages spur gear 216 a of rotatableproximal drive shaft 216 to the gear teeth of ring gear 202 d of knobhousing 202. Gear set 274 includes a first gear 274 a engaged with spurgear 216 a of third rotatable proximal drive shaft 216, and a secondgear 274 b engaged with the gear teeth of ring gear 202 d.

In operation, as rotatable proximal drive shaft 216 is rotated, due to arotation of third connector sleeve 222, as a result of the rotation ofthe third respective drive connector 122 of surgical device 100, spurgear 216 a of rotatable proximal drive shaft 216 engages first gear 272a of gear set 274 causing gear set 274 to rotate. As gear set 274rotates, second gear 274 b of gear set 274 is rotated and thus causesring gear 202 d to also rotate thereby causing knob housing 202 torotate. As knob housing 202 is rotated, the pair of diametricallyopposed bosses 202 b, 202 c of knob housing 202 are rotated therewith,thereby transmitting rotation to inner housing tube 206 a. As innerhousing tube 206 a is rotated, distal coupling assembly 230 connectedthereto, is caused to be rotated about longitudinal axis “X” of adapterassembly 200. As distal coupling 230 is rotated, end effector 300, thatis connected to distal coupling assembly 230, is also caused to berotated about longitudinal axis “X” of adapter assembly 200.

By forming knob housing 202 as a single unitary component, as comparedto an assembly including multiple components manufactured from multipledifferent materials, knob housing 202 of the present disclosure reducesa relative cost and a relative complexity of shaft assembly 200. Inparticular, manufacturing time of a single unitary knob housing 202 isreduced as compared to a multi-component knob housing. The overallweight of shaft assembly 200, including a single unitary knob housing202, will be reduced as compared to a shaft assembly including amulti-component knob housing. The assembly of shaft assembly 200,including a single unitary knob housing 202, will be simplified ascompared to the assembly of a shaft assembly including a multi-componentknob housing.

Additionally, providing a shaft assembly 200, including a single unitaryknob housing 202, will be reduce or eliminate clearances inherentlypresent in shaft assemblies including a multi-component knob housing. Byreducing and/or eliminating clearances, a shaft assembly 200, includinga single unitary knob housing 202, reduces backlash or play which wouldotherwise be present in the rotation system (i.e., the third drivetransmitting/converting assembly) of surgical device 100 and shaftassembly 200. This will translate into an increase of accuracy from thenumber input turns to rotation of shaft assembly 200.

Also, the single unitary knob housing 202 will minimize undesiredmovement and wobbling between the knob housing 202, surgical devicedrive coupling assembly 210, and outer tube 206.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-10, an adapter assembly 1200 including a knobhousing 1202, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure,is shown and will be described. Knob housing 1202 defines alongitudinally extending lumen 1202 a extending therethrough. Knobhousing 1202 includes a distal housing half 1203 a and a proximalhousing half or cap 1203 b, joined to one another via screw fasteners(not shown) or the like. Proximal housing half 1203 b is configured toreceive drive coupling assembly 210 therethrough.

Knob housing 1202 further includes an internal ring gear 1202 d formedin the surface of lumen 1202 a thereof. In particular, internal ringgear 1202 d is formed in distal housing half 1203 a of knob housing1202.

As discussed above with regard to adapter assembly 200, adapter assembly1200 includes a third drive transmitting/converting assembly including agear set having a spur gear of rotatable proximal drive shaft thatengages the gear teeth of ring gear 1202 d of knob housing 1202.

Distal housing half 1203 a of knob housing 1202 is formed as a single,unitary component (i.e., not split longitudinally). Knob housing 1202,including distal housing half 1203 a has all the advantages describedabove as related to knob housing 202.

In operation, when a button of surgical device 100 is activated by theuser, the software checks predefined conditions. If conditions are met,the software controls the motors and delivers mechanical drive to theattached surgical stapler, which can then open, close, rotate,articulate or fire depending on the function of the pressed button. Thesoftware also provides feedback to the user by turning colored lights onor off in a defined manner to indicate the status of surgical device100, adapter assembly 200 and/or end effector 300.

A high level electrical architectural view of the system is displayed inFIG. 12 and shows the connections to the various hardware and softwareinterfaces. Inputs from presses of buttons 124, 126 and from motorencoders of the drive shaft are shown on the left side of FIG. 12. Themicrocontroller contains the device software that operates surgicaldevice 100, adapter assembly 200 and/or end effector 300. Themicrocontroller receives inputs from and sends outputs to a MicroLAN, anUltra ID chip, a Battery ID chip, and Adaptor ID chips.

The MicroLAN, the Ultra ID chip, the Battery ID chip, and the Adaptor IDchips control surgical device 100, adapter assembly 200 and/or endeffector 300 as follows:

MicroLAN   —   Serial 1-wire bus communication to             read/write system component ID              information.Ultra ID chip  —   identifies surgical device 100 and records             usage information. Battery ID chip    —    identifies theBattery 156 and                 records usage information. Adaptor IDchip    —    identifies the type of adapter                 assembly200, records the presence                 of an end effector 300, andrecords                 usage information.

The right side of the schematic illustrated in FIG. 12 indicates outputsto the LED's; selection of motor (to select clamping/cutting, rotationor articulation); and selection of the drive motors to perform thefunction selected.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 11, the end effector is designated as 300.End effector 300 is configured and dimensioned for endoscopic insertionthrough a cannula, trocar or the like. In particular, in the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 11, end effector 300 may pass through acannula or trocar when end effector 300 is in a closed condition.

End effector 300 includes a proximal body portion 302 and a toolassembly 304. Proximal body portion 302 is releasably attached to adistal coupling 230 of adapter assembly 200 and tool assembly 304 ispivotally attached to a distal end of proximal body portion 302. Toolassembly 304 includes an anvil assembly 306 and a cartridge assembly308. Cartridge assembly 308 is pivotal in relation to anvil assembly 306and is movable between an open or unclamped position and a closed orclamped position for insertion through a cannula of a trocar.

Proximal body portion 302 includes at least a drive assembly 360 and anarticulation link 366.

Referring to FIG. 11, drive assembly 360 includes a flexible drive beam364 having a distal end which is secured to a dynamic clamping member365, and a proximal engagement section 368. Engagement section 368includes a stepped portion defining a shoulder 370. A proximal end ofengagement section 368 includes diametrically opposed inwardly extendingfingers 372. Fingers 372 engage a hollow drive member 374 to fixedlysecure drive member 374 to the proximal end of beam 364. Drive member374 defines a proximal porthole 376 which receives connection member 247of drive tube 246 of first drive converter assembly 240 of adapterassembly 200 when end effector 300 is attached to distal coupling 230 ofadapter assembly 200.

When drive assembly 360 is advanced distally within tool assembly 304,an upper beam of clamping member 365 moves within a channel definedbetween anvil plate 312 and anvil cover 310 and a lower beam moves overthe exterior surface of carrier 316 to close tool assembly 304 and firestaples therefrom.

Proximal body portion 302 of end effector 300 includes an articulationlink 366 having a hooked proximal end 366 a which extends from aproximal end of end effector 300. Hooked proximal end 366 a ofarticulation link 366 engages coupling hook 258 c of drive bar 258 ofadapter assembly 200 when end effector 300 is secured to distal housing232 of adapter assembly 200. When drive bar 258 of adapter assembly 200is advanced or retracted as described above, articulation link 366 ofend effector 300 is advanced or retracted within end effector 300 topivot tool assembly 304 in relation to a distal end of proximal bodyportion 302.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, cartridge assembly 308 of tool assembly 304includes a staple cartridge 305 supportable in carrier 316. Staplecartridge 305 defines a central longitudinal slot 305 a, and threelinear rows of staple retention slots 305 b positioned on each side oflongitudinal slot 305 a. Each of staple retention slots 305 b receives asingle staple 307 and a portion of a staple pusher 309. During operationof surgical device 100, drive assembly 360 abuts an actuation sled andpushes actuation sled through cartridge 305. As the actuation sled movesthrough cartridge 305, cam wedges of the actuation sled sequentiallyengage staple pushers 309 to move staple pushers 309 vertically withinstaple retention slots 305 b and sequentially eject a single staple 307therefrom for formation against anvil plate 312.

Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,896, filed on Aug. 31,2009, entitled “TOOL ASSEMBLY FOR A SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE,” theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, for adetailed discussion of the construction and operation of end effector300.

Reference may also be made to U.S. Pat. No. 9,055,943, filed on May 31,2012, entitled “HAND HELD SURGICAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY, SURGICAL ADAPTERSFOR USE BETWEEN SURGICAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND SURGICAL END EFFECTORS, ANDMETHODS OF USE,” the entire content of which is incorporated herein byreference, for a detailed discussion of the construction and operationof any of the remaining components of surgical device 100, adapterassembly 200, and end effector 300.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to theembodiments of the presently disclosed adapter assemblies. Therefore,the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely asexemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envisionother modifications within the scope and spirit of the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter assembly for selectivelyinterconnecting a surgical end effector and a surgical device, theadapter assembly comprising: an adapter knob housing configured tocouple to the surgical device, the adapter knob housing including: aninner surface defining a lumen extending longitudinally through theadapter knob housing; and a ring gear formed in the inner surface of theadapter knob housing; an outer tube having a proximal end portionsupported by the adapter knob housing and a distal end portionconfigured to couple to the end effector; and a proximal drive shaftdefining a longitudinal axis and rotatably supported in the adapter knobhousing, the proximal drive shaft having a gear operably coupled to thering gear, wherein when the adapter assembly is connected to thesurgical device and the end effector a rotation of the proximal driveshaft about the longitudinal axis rotates the adapter knob housing andthe end effector.
 2. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, whereinthe ring gear defines an internal annular array of gear teeth.
 3. Theadapter assembly according to claim 2, wherein the internal annulararray of gear teeth project into the lumen.
 4. The adapter assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the adapter knob housing is formed as aunitary molded component.
 5. The adapter assembly according to claim 4,wherein the adapter knob housing is formed from a thermoplastic polymer.6. An adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effectorand a surgical device, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter knobhousing configured to couple to the surgical device and including: aninner surface defining a lumen extending longitudinally through theadapter knob housing; and a ring gear monolithically formed in the innersurface of the adapter knob housing.
 7. The adapter assembly accordingto claim 6, wherein the ring gear defines an internal annular array ofgear teeth.
 8. The adapter assembly according to claim 7, wherein theinternal annular array of gear teeth project into the lumen.
 9. Theadapter assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adapter knob housingis formed as a unitary molded component.
 10. The adapter assemblyaccording to claim 6, wherein the adapter knob housing is formed from athermoplastic polymer.
 11. The adapter assembly according to claim 6,further comprising a proximal drive shaft defining a longitudinal axisand rotatably supported in the adapter knob housing.
 12. The adapterassembly according to claim 11, wherein the proximal drive shaftincludes a gear operably coupled to the ring gear of the adapter knobhousing such that rotation of the proximal drive shaft about thelongitudinal axis rotates the adapter knob housing.